Health inequities start early in life, even before birth: Why race-specific fetal and neonatal growth references disadvantage Black infants

Abstract

Clinicians and researchers use published standards to assess and classify the size and growth of the fetus and newborn infant. Fetal growth is slower on average in Black fetuses as compared with White fetuses, and existing standards differ in whether they are race-specific or not. Here, we apply a health equity lens to the topic of fetal and newborn growth assessment by critically appraising two widely available growth standards. We conclude that using race-based standards is not well-justified and could perpetuate or even worsen inequities in perinatal health outcomes. We therefore recommend that neonatal and perinatal providers remove race from the assessment of fetal and newborn size.